TWO schools are setting the pace in the old bird season by winning pigeon races.

At Oswaldtwistle Homing Society, St Andrews Primary School in Oswaldtwistle and Longshaw Junior School in Blackburn both recorded excellent wins.

Both schools have a strong team of young birds and hope to spring more surprises in the coming weeks.

They have also won prizes in the Central Lancashire Combine East Lancs Hospice charity race from Frome.

St Andrews Primary School won the last Inland Old Bird Race from Portland.

While Longshaw Junior School who won their first Channel Race from Fourgeres, France.

Next year, a third school, St Nicholas Primary School at Church will join them.

A grant of £350 has been received from the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Voluntary Service towards the cost of the Dovecote Project.

The school will be starting off with 4 Young Birds next year.